Road trip: Guy Fieri searches for Food Network’s next big star

from The Brainerd Dispatch TV Week November 12th 2017

by Brainerd Dispatch and Echo Journal

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By Andrew Warren TV Media

At a network that has what can feel like an entire stable full of stars, Guy Fieri really does stand out from the crowd, and not just thanks to his distinct spiky ‘do or his larger-than-life personality. The host is definitely the face of Food Network, and his latest show just helps to cement that well-earned reputation.

“Guy’s Big Project” premiered last week and continues Sunday nights on the culinary channel. For the host of “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” the new series must feel right at home — when it comes down to it, it’s very much a cross between “Triple D” and “Food Network Star,” another show that holds a special place in Guy’s heart.

Before he was, well, a Food Network star, Guy competed for the chance to make his own show in season 2 of “Star” back in 2006 (then called “The Next Food Network Star”), which he won.

With the long-running success of “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” it seems that the powers that be at Food Network are looking for the next big culinary-travel series, and who better to help them find it than the king of the genre?

“Guy’s Big Project” features six hopefuls looking to land their own Food Network series. They’ve all come with a pitch for a new show, and over the course of six episodes, they have to sell not only the idea, but also them- selves, to a team of Food Network veterans.

Fieri may be running the show, but he’s not alone. Iron Chef Alex Guarnaschelli and veteran Food Network producer Mark Dissin are out on the road with the hopefuls, the three of them putting the prospects through their paces and showing them all the behind-the-scenes stuff that goes into making a show of this type.

After making full-fledged pilots in the finale, the winner will be announced and viewers at home will get a special treat as Food Network presents a sneak peek of the winner’s new series. First, though, the hopefuls need to impress the “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” host and take his years of experience to heart. “Guy’s Big Project” airs Sundays on Food Network.

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